Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
There are a lot of perks of owning a home, but as your West Bend home ages, you may find yourself needing to update or repair your appliances and systems. A home warranty is a way to protect your budget from unexpected expenses. With a home warranty in place, your repair costs can be considerably lower and give you some peace of mind.
Finding the best home warranty on the market can be time-consuming, since there are so many companies to decide between. That’s why our team at Today's Homeowner did the research and compiled a list of the top home warranty companies in West Bend for you.
Over 10 years of experience
24/7 customer service team
Home inspections aren’t required
90-day repair guarantee
Plans aren’t customizable
Customers can’t choose their own contractor
Not available in washington
In West Bend, Choice Home Warranty is the best overall home warranty. Choice has been operating for over 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. Choice has established itself as a company with very high coverage caps and simple-to-understand service contracts. It also has great customer service, professional contractors, and lower out-of-pocket costs compared to other home warranties. The 2 plans that Choice offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
There are 2 home warranty plans from Choice Home Warranty: Basic Plan and Total Plan. Service fees from Choice are an affordable $85. The coverage caps are also about $3,000.
To get a free quote from Choice Home Warranty, you can fill out this online form or call 929-400-6164. Read our review of Choice Home Warranty to learn more.
Basic Plan
Total Plan
The oldest and most trusted company in the industry
Allows customers to build their own plans
Ability to choose the service fee you want to pay
Broad coverage on up to 33 appliances and systems
Doesn’t let customers choose their own technician
Doesn’t provide coverage in alaska
In West Bend, American Home Shield is the most customizable home warranty. AHS has been operating for over 26 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. AHS has established itself as a company with the ability to customize your plan with the coverages that work specifically for your home. It also has a remarkably low claim denial rate in comparison to other home warranty companies. The 3 plans that AHS offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
There are 3 home warranty plans from American Home Shield: ShieldSilver, ShieldGold, and ShieldPlatinum. Service fees from AHS are customizable and range from $75 to $125. The coverage caps are also about $2,500.
To get a free quote from American Home Shield, you can fill out this online form or call 888-365-2839. Read our review of American Home Shield to learn more.
ShieldSilver
ShieldGold
ShieldPlatinum
Offers home insurance deductible of $500
Extra long 180-day workmanship guarantee
Offers free cancellation in the first 30 days
Charges high service fees of $75-$150
Doesn’t allow customers to choose their own technician
Isn’t available in hawaii or alaska
In West Bend, Cinch Home Services is the home warranty with the best workmanship guarantee. Cinch has been operating for over 44 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. Cinch has established itself as a company with a 180-day workmanship guarantee that ensures your home systems and appliance repairs will be professionally done. It also has a broad range of coverage options that will give homeowners peace of mind. The 3 plans that Cinch offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
There are 3 home warranty plans from Cinch Home Services: Appliances Plan, Built-in Systems Plan, and Complete Home Plan. Service fees from Cinch are customizable and range from $75 to $150. The coverage caps are also about $1,000-$2,000.
To get a free quote from Cinch Home Services, you can fill out this online form or call 877-589-0505. Read our review of Cinch Home Services to learn more.
Appliances Plan
Built-in Systems Plan
Complete Home Plan
Policy starts in ten days
24/7 customer service support
Generous coverage caps on important systems and appliances
30-labor guarantee and 90-day parts guarantee
Offers utility and home service outside line coverage
Higher service fee of $95
Not accredited by the better business bureau (bbb)
Only 2 plan options
In West Bend, The Home Service Club is the best home warranty with the quickest service. HSC has been operating for over 15 years, making it a well-regarded company in the industry. HSC has established itself as a company with quick coverage where the home warranty goes into effect just ten days after you pay for the plan, instead of the typical 30 days. It also has customer service representatives available 24/7, as well as a 30-day labor guarantee and a 90-day parts guarantee. The 2 plans that HSC offers include differing levels of system and appliance coverage, as well as add-on options.
There are 2 home warranty plans from The Home Service Club: Standard Coverage Plan and Comprehensive Coverage Plan. Service fees from HSC are customizable and range from $65 to $90. The coverage caps are also about $2,000.
To get a free quote from The Home Service Club, you can fill out this online form or call 800-750-9443. Read our review of The Home Service Club to learn more.
Standard Coverage Plan
Comprehensive Coverage Plan
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on home warranty companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
| Home Appliance | Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Air Conditioner | $6,003 |
| Heating | $4,002 |
| Electrical | $600 |
| Toilets | $500 |
| Washer/Dryer | $800 |
| Plumbing | $600 |
| Oven | $1,601 |
| Fridge | $600 |
A home warranty is a protection policy that helps West Bend homeowners reduce the costs of appliance and system repairs. The plans offer financial coverage to fix or replace appliances and systems that stop working due to normal wear and tear.
When something breaks down, you file a claim and pay a service fee. The home warranty provider then arranges a contractor to handle the fix or replacement. Homeowners may have out-of-pocket costs only if the repair or replacement goes over the item's coverage limit. A home warranty gives security for homeowners by helping them prevent expensive emergency fixes. They're particularly valuable for those who own older homes or ones with outdated systems. Newer builds with working fixtures probably don’t require a home warranty.
Home warranties cover your home systems and appliances. Common covered appliances are refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves, garbage disposals, dishwashers, and more. Covered systems are typically air conditioning, electrical, heating, and plumbing. Many home warranty companies provide add-on coverage for septic systems, central vacuums, roof leaks, and locksmiths. West Bend homeowners should know that most home warranty plans begin with a 30-day waiting period before repairs are covered. What's more, most policies only cover the cost of repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear. Home warranties don't include pre-existing conditions, natural disasters, cosmetic issues, or misuse of a system or appliance. Remember to keep up with preventative maintenance to help make sure your next repair or replacement is covered.
There are multiple home warranty terms to learn before signing an agreement, including:
When choosing a home warranty provider, there are several important factors to consider:
Home warranty coverage varies, although most plans include protection for AC, heating, plumbing, electrical, and appliances. More inclusive plans may also cover extra things such as roof leaks, spas, well pumps, and pools. Look for a company that offers robust coverage options, including upgraded plans. Flexibility is important when trying to fit a home warranty to your home's specific systems and needs.
With any home warranty claim, you'll pay a service fee, usually falling in the $60 to $100 range, which is paid per service call made. These per-claim charges can add up. You may decide to look for companies with more affordable fees to maximize your savings on each claim. Some providers also offer disappearing deductibles for customers who don't file any claims over a certain timespan.
A home warranty company's reputation gives you insight into things such as timeliness of repairs, claim approval rates, contractor quality, and overall customer satisfaction. Use third-party review sites such as Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or TrustPilot to research companies. Complimentary ratings and reviews indicate a provider known for stellar service.
Home warranty companies use networks of local repair contractors to manage repairs in a given area. Contact potential companies to ask how many repair professionals they have in West Bend and get an idea of how quickly your repairs could be handled in an emergency. Bigger networks increase the likelihood of getting qualified contractors to promptly service your home.
Certain home warranty providers include extras such as protection for smart home devices, energy-efficient upgrades, and discounts on maintenance. These bonuses provide extra value beyond repair coverage. Added perks enhance your home and help maximize your home warranty.
Home warranty policies are an inexpensive way to protect your home systems and appliances from normal wear and tear. With temperatures in West Bend reaching an average high of 53℃F, you may find that some appliances, such as your air conditioning unit, get a lot of use. A home warranty can considerably decrease out-of-pocket costs should your HVAC system break down.
Plus, having a home warranty can save you some time by eliminating the need to research technicians — most companies will send a trusted professional right to your door to do the repair or replacement. A home warranty can also have value in other ways. For example, some policies can be transferred between owners during a home sale.
As for the drawbacks of home warranties, system and appliance coverage varies by company, so it’s important to review what each plan covers and excludes in the contract.
Another pain point of home warranties is that they don’t cover systems or appliances that haven’t been properly maintained. This can lead to your claims being denied, so it’s important to carefully follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for maintenance of your home systems and appliances.
A home warranty costs, on average, around $300 to $600 a year in West Bend. Our high-rated home warranty companies' most comprehensive coverage options vary from $546 to $840 per year. You can get a lower monthly payment with some companies by choosing a higher service fee. Additionally, it's usually cheaper to pay annually rather than monthly.
The difference between a home warranty and homeowner's insurance lies in what kinds of damage each covers. A home warranty plan covers normal wear and tear to home systems and appliances. A homeowners insurance plan protects the entire home in case of something such as a fire or natural disaster. With a homeowners insurance plan, you will not be able to file a claim if you need a new washing machine or dishwasher, unless the damage is a result of a natural disaster, which isn't that common in West Bend.
First-time homebuyers, home sellers, landlords, homeowners, and real estate agents can all get home warranty plans. A home warranty can help make your property more appealing to prospective buyers and save you money in the long run.
The different kinds of home warranties in West Bend include plans with coverage for either appliances or systems as well as comprehensive plans. A comprehensive plan covers your systems and appliances, including your dishwasher, washing machine, and HVAC. An appliance or system plan will cover only the specific items mentioned in the plan.
Home warranty plans usually offer coverage for a year. Many providers let you renew your plan yearly, and some offer month-to-month plans as well.
Typically, the homeowner pays for the home warranty. In some cases, though, the one selling the home may buy a home warranty and transfer the policy to the buyer. The new homeowner will then have to pay the service fees when using the policy. Considering that the average home value in West Bend is $303,317, a home warranty can save you some money when buying a home.
